The Department of State Services, DSS, has formally taken over the investigation into the attack and abduction of Dr. Pedro Obaseki in Benin City on December 28, 2025.
The incident is now being treated as terrorism-related, following petitions submitted by his legal team.
In a state-of-the-case statement issued by his lead counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Femi Falana, the DSS Headquarters in Abuja was said to have assumed full conduct of the investigation in recognition of the nature, gravity and wider implications of the acts outlined in the petitions.
The statement adds that Falana described the decision to classify the matter as terrorism-related as “quite commendable.”
According to the statement, the petitions allege terrorism-related conduct, conspiracy, assault, unlawful detention and obstruction of justice arising from the events of December 28.
Falana said Dr. Obaseki welcomes the development and has continued to cooperate fully with all lawful investigative processes.
He disclosed that the complainant has previously engaged with the DSS in Benin City under the authority of the State Director, adding that any concerns arising from those interactions — including issues of conduct, handling and procedural integrity — have been formally documented and incorporated into consolidated representations before the appropriate authorities.
The legal team has also instituted civil proceedings before Nigerian courts. Falana said these actions are intended to complement, and not prejudice, ongoing investigations by security agencies, while seeking judicial remedies and institutional accountability.
Beyond Nigeria, petitions have been submitted to international and regional bodies, including the ECOWAS Court of Justice, European Union human-rights mechanisms and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and arbitrary detention.
Falana said the steps were taken to ensure transparency, preservation of evidence and adherence to Nigeria’s international obligations.
The statement further notes that social media and digital platforms have been placed on notice over the circulation of footage linked to Dr. Obaseki’s alleged dehumanisation and abduction, in order to ensure responsible platform conduct and cooperation with lawful accountability processes.
Dr. Obaseki stressed that all actions taken were solely in furtherance of justice, the rule of law and public accountability — not for sensationalism or political motives — while calling on authorities and the public to support efforts to ensure that all criminal perpetrators, collaborators and enablers are identified and held to account.
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